Tool for tieing bundles of cables

ABSTRACT

A tool having actuating means for securing the ends of tie straps on bundles of cables or the like by means of locks, and/or for cutting off excessive strap material. A linking device is provided to operatively connect the actuating means to shifting means for the locks so that the latter will be automatically transferred from a magazine to holding means during operation of the tool.

United States Patent Kabel TOOL FOR TIEING BUNDLES OF CABLES [72] Inventor: Heinrich Kabel, Quickbom, Germany [73] Assignee: Paul Hellermann G.m.b.l-I., .Pinneberg, Germany [22] Filed: Oct. 12, I970 [21] Appl. No.: 79,967

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 18, 1969 Germany ..P 19 52 618.2

[52] US. Cl .....140/93.4, 29/203 H, 29/212 D, Y 72/410, 140/121, 140/123 [51] Int. Cl. ..B2lf 9/02, B2lf 45/00 [58] Field of Search...29/203 H, 203 HT, 203 HM, 203 BC,

Y 29/212 R, 212 D, 212 M, 243.56, 280;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,194,748 3/ 1940 Glaser et al ..72/4l0 1 Oct. 3, 1972 2,829,550 4/1958 I-Iamshaw ..29/2l2 D 2,844,980 7/1958 Johnson ..29/212 D 3,529,342 9/ 1970 Burgess et al ..29/2l2 D 3,583,202 6/1971 Blakeway ..72/4 10 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 996,608 6/1965 Great Britain 140/934 Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-E. M. Combs Attorney-Dezsoe Steinherz [57] ABSTRACT A tool having actuating means for securing the ends of tie straps on bundles of cables or the like by means of locks, and/or for cutting off excessive strap material. A linking device is provided to operatively connect the actuating means to shifting means for the locks so that the latter will be automatically transferred from a magazine to holding means during operation of the tool.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED 001 3 I972 SHEET 1 0F 2 Inventor.- HE/NRICH K ABEL DEZSOE STE/NHERZ AGENT 1 TOOL FOR TIEING BUNDLES .OF CABLES RELATED APPLICATIONS Copending applications of mine containing related subject matter are U.S. application Ser. No. 773,217 filed Nov. 4, 1968 and now U. S. Pat. No. 3,554,405 granted Jan. 12, 1971 and U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 773,161 filed Nov. 4, 1968 now U. S. Pat. No. 3,568,731 and U.S. application Ser. No. 57,852- filed June 12, .1970, which was a division of Ser. No. 667,286 filed Sept. 12, 1967. now U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,554 which in turn was a division of Ser. No. 446,855 filed Apr. 9', 1965 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,227.

This invention relates to a tool for tieing bundles of cables or cable harnesses or the like by means of straps, the end of each strap being secured by a lock, and more particularly to such tool having an elongated housing which includes a magazine chamber extending substantially in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing for storing a'plurality of locks, the magazine chamber having 'a discharg'e opening adjacent the front end of the housing; thev latter is further provided at itsv front end with holding means for a lock' to be processed and with means for transfer of the foremost lock in the magazine from the discharge opening thereof to the holding means.

In a prior tool of the above typehaving manually operated actuating means, the discharge opening of the magazine is connected to the adjacent lock-holding means by a guideway, and a shifting means is provided for transferring the foremost lock from the discharge opening of the magazine through the guideway to the holding means. However, the prior tool requires a separate manual movement to carry out such transfer of a lock to the holding means.

GENERAL SUMIVIARY OF THE INVENTION According to theinvention the actuating means of the tool are operatively connected by a linking or interlocking or coupling device to the shifting means for transfer of locks. As a result, the transfer of Iocks'is automatically effected during normal operation of the tool, the movement of the shifting means being derived from the actuating means of the tool. For achieving such simplified operation, it is not essential to which individual element of the movable tool mechanisms the shifting means is connected; however, an element of mechanism for closing the locks or an element of mechanism for trimming the band ends is preferably usedto establish the connection to the shifting means.

It is of advantage to bias the shifting means by a resilient means such as a spring in the transfer direction and to arrange the linking device so that during closing of a lock in the holding means, the shifting means is moved in the opposite direction to a position permitting release of a lock from the magazine chamber The guidewaymay be in the form of any means which insure that the lock to be transferred will properly pass from the discharge opening of the magazine to the holding means. In certain cases, special guide walls may not be required for this purpose.

Preferably, the linking device comprises an inclined face on mechanism for closing the locks or on mechanism for trimming the strap ends, and further includes a cooperating control member or cam which may either form a unit with the shifting means or may be a separate part actingupon the shifting means.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention by way of example,

FIG. I is a diagrammatic elevational view showing the outline of the housing of a tool according to the invention and indicating certain parts for closing the locks and trimming the strap ends;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of one half of the housing, seen along line'A-B of FIG. 5 and indicating the ar- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, the illustrated tool according to the invention comprises an elongated housing generally indicated at l. The outline of housing! is shown diagrammatically in chain lines, together with a coil 2 of strap material supported on the rear portion of housing for advance to the guideway. The lock will then be in a l. The latter is composed of two portions or halves la, lb (FIGS. 2 to 8) which are secured to each other by suitable fastening means (not shown). As indicated in full lines in FIG. 1, an actuating arm 4 is pivotally mounted at 3 in housing 1 and at its front end is connected to or carries means 305 which are diagrammatically indicated and include mechanism to close locks and mechanism to trim the ends of straps, that is, to cut off excessive strap material. The other, fork-like end of arm 4 engages a pin 5 supported on an actuating member in the form of a hand lever 7 which is pivotally mounted at 6 in housing I. The closing mechanism referred to is adapted to act upon a lock positioned in holding means 303. (FIGS. 7 8t 8) at the front end of housing portion lb. If the locks used are of the type indicated, for example, at 8 in FIGS. 2 to 6 and described in German Pat. No. 1,279,801, the closing mechanism of means 305 may comprise a pin 4a (FIG. 1) corresponding to ram 44 of the German Patent. Further, the actuating arm 4 may be provided with or connected to knife means for cutting or trimming the strap ends.

' To close a lock, the tool is actuated by pulling the hand lever 7, whereby the front end of arm 4 is lifted and pin 4a is caused to act upon the respective lock. FIG. 7 showing a front view indicates arm 4 in a first or rest position, whereas FIG. 8 which is likewise a front view illustrates the arm in its second position with the front end thereof lifted.

As will be apparent from the cross-sectional views of FIGS. and 6, arm 4 is positioned at one side of the housing, that is, in the housing portion 1b, while as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a magazine chamber 306 is arranged at the other side, that is, in the housing portion la. The magazine chamber 306 which is formed partly by the housing and partly by other elements fixed to the housing and not shown for the sake of simplicity, extends substantially in parallel to the longitudinal direction of housing 1 and contains a series of locks 8, the foremost lock in the magazine being designated 313 and being located in or at the discharge opening 307 (FIG. 3) of the magazine. It should be noted that a number of locks 8 have been omitted in the center section of the magazine in FIGS. 2 to 4 for better illustration of other parts. A resilient means such as a spring 9 is provided in the magazine chamber to urge the'locks 8 towards the front end of the housing. Arranged at the front of the tool and at the side opposite the magazine chamber are the above-mentioned closing and cutting mechanisms 305 (FIG. 1) and lock-holding means 303 (FIGS. 7 and 8). The latter means is disposed next to the discharge opening 307 of the magazine chamber and is connected thereto by a guideway 308 (FIG. 3).

A shifting arm 11 is mounted in housing portion la on a pivot 10 secured to the housing and is movable transversely of the path of movement of arm 4. The major, substantially straight portion of the shifting arm 11 extends below the magazine chamber 306 and the series of locks 8 to the tool front where the arm is provided with an angular part projecting upwards and comprising an intermediate portion 12 and a finger 13. The intermediate portion 12 is disposed substantially in parallel to a vertical plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the magazine, while the finger 13 is arranged substantially at right angles thereto and may project outwardly (see FIGS. 4 & 8) through a lateral opening in the housing (details of opening not shown). A resilient means such as a torsion spring 14 is arranged to bias the shifting arm 11. The spring 14, at least one winding of which is supported on a bolt 15, has one end portion bearing against the housing and another end portion bearing against arm 11 to urge the latter towards a first or rest position shown in FIG. 3 in which the finger 13 obstructs the discharge opening of the magazine.

While the parts are in the FIG. 3 position, a lock designated 312 is within the holding means and ready for the next closing step. A finished lock shown at 314 has just been removed from the holding means after it has been closed to secure the ends of a tie strap 17 on a bundle of cables or a cable harness 16. The intermediate portion 12 of shifting arm 11 is urged against the lock 312 due to pressure exerted by spring 14 and will maintain lock 312 in the holding means 303. The next lock 313 waiting in the magazine, ie. the foremost lock in the magazine chamber, bears against the finger 13 of shifting arm 1 1 due to pressure exerted by spring 9. If arm 11 is moved against the force of torsion spring 14 to its second position (FIG. 4) in a manner described later, finger 13 will clear the discharge opening of the magazine. Lock 313 will thus be released and will advance into the guideway 308 where it will be located next to the holding means and next to lock 312 positioned therein, see FIG. 4. After lock 312 has been closed and removed from the holding means, the intermediate portion 12 of arm 11 will transfer lock 313 to the holding means due to the pressure exerted by spring 14.

FIGS. 5 to 8 illustrate details of a linking or interlocking or coupling device automatically moving the shifting arm 11 from its first or rest position shown in FIG. 3 to the second or stressed position of FIG. 4. Arm 4 which serves to actuate the closing and cutting mechanisms indicated at 305 (FIG. 1) has an opening 20 (FIGS. 5 & 6) which at its bottom is limited by an inclined face 23 in a manner such that the area of the opening gradually increases in the direction towards the shifting arm 11. A control member generally indicated at 21 which may be approximately latchshaped has a cam-like head 21a extending into the opening 20 to engage the inclined face 23 andv is pivotally mounted on a bolt 22 fastened to housing 1 for movement between a first position wherein the head 21a projects relatively far into opening 20 (FIG. 5), and a second position wherein the head 21a is partly retracted from the opening. The back portion 21b of the latchshaped member 21 cooperates with a lateral surface 24 on the shifting arm 11 which is biased in the direction towards the back of the latch-shaped member by the force exerted by spring 14. Thus, the position of member 21 determines the position of arm 11. More precisely, arm 11 will be in the FIG. 3 position when, in accordance with FIG. 5, the control member 21 protrudes into the opening 20 as far as possible, whereas arm 11 will be in the FIG. 4 position when member 21 is arranged as shown in FIG. 6.

Movement of control member 21 to the one or the other position thereof is caused by movement of the actuating arm 4 in the following manner. The front end of the actuating arm 4 is lowered in its rest position (FIG. 5) to an extent such that the inclined face 23 does not prevent the head 21a of member 21 from advancing relatively far into the opening 20. If, however, the front end of arm 4 is lifted (FIG. 6) to close a lock and/or cut the ends of a strap, the inclined face 23 will urge the control member 21 to the left (as seen in FIG. 6) and thereby will cause the shifting arm 11 to move from the FIG. 3 position to the position shown in FIG. 4.

Accordingly, operation of the tool described will be as follows:

As indicated hereinbefore with reference to FIG. 3, finished lock 314 is shown removed from the tool and secured to strap 17 on the bundle of cables 16.

By pulling the hand lever 7, lock 312 positioned in the holding means will now be closed to secure the ends of tie strap 17' (FIG. 4) on the bundle of cables shown at 16', and/or the ends of straps 17 will be trimmed. During the movement of hand lever 7, the front end of the actuating arm 4 is lifted from the FIG. 5 position to the position shown in FIG. 6 and thus the control member 21 is caused to push the shifting arm 11 from the FIG. 3 position to the position according to FIG. 4. Thereby, the next lock 313 in the magazine chamber 306 will be released and permitted to advance from the FIG. 3 position to the transfer position shown in FIG. 4 where it is located in the guideway 308 and next to the holding means. Lock 313 will remain in this position as long as the closed lock 312 is still within the holding means, but will be pushed by the intermediate portion 12 of arm 11 into the holding means immediately upon removal of lock 312 therefrom. The tool will then be ready for the next closing and/or cutting operation.

Various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Details of the lock holding means 303 and the magazine chamber 306 may be arranged in accordance with my copending application Ser. No. 773,217. Details of the cutting mechanisms 305 may be arranged in accordance with my copending application Ser. No. 773,161. These applications correspond to French Patent specifications 1,591,404 and 1,590,881 resp.

What is claimed is: V

1. In a tool for tying bundles of cables or the like by means of straps and locks,

an elongated housing having a front end and also having an elongated magazine chamber therein for storing an elongated series of said locks with said magazine chamber extending substantially in parallel to the longitudinal direction of said elongated housing and having a discharge opening adjacent to the front end of the housing,

lock holding means positioned at said front end of the housing and located near said magazine discharge opening, but transversely spaced from the longitudinal direction of said magazine chamber,

a transversely extending guideway in said housing interconnecting said discharge opening of the magazine chamber and said lock holding means,

shifting means for selectively restraining discharge of the front end most lock from said magazine chamber and allowing such release of the end most lock and for selectively shifting a release lock through said transverse guideway to said lock holding means,

the shifting means comprising an elongated actuating lever in said elongated housing extending substantially in parallel to the longitudinal direction of said elongated housing adjacent said magazine chamber,

a lock closing mechanism for closing a lbck in the lock holding means to secure said lock to the ends of one of said straps when tied around one of said bundles of cables,

actuating means for the said lock closing mechanism,

comprising an actuating rod arranged in said housing and extending essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction of said elongated housing, and

a linking device operatively connecting said actuating means and said shifting means and comprising means forming an inclined face on one of said actuating and shifting means and means forming a camming device for working against said inclined face on the other of said actuating and shifting means,

the said apparatus being constructed and arranged so that the operations of the tool as a whole comprise an automatict ansfer of a lock to said lock holding means via sa1 transverse guideway during operation of the tool to actuate frontward movement of said series of locks in the magazine and closure of the previously advanced lock in an essentially combined single actuating operation.

2. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said shifting means is movable in said transverse direction to a first position close to said holding means and obstructing said discharge opening of the magazine chamber and is movable in the opposite direction to a second position remote, from said holding means and clearing said discharge opening, a resilient means being provided to bias said shifting means for movement in the direction towards said first position; and wherein said linking device includes means for moving said shifting means to said second position during said closing of said one lock to permit advance of the next lock of said series of locks from the magazine chamber to said guideway.

3. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein cutting mechanism is provided for trimming said ends of one of said straps, said cutting mechanism being operable by said actuating means; wherein further said shifting means is movable in said transverse direction to a first position close to said holding means and obstructing said discharge opening of the magazine chamber and is movable in the opposite direction to a second position remote from said holding means and clearing said discharge opening, a resilient means being provided to bias said shifting means for movement in the direction towards said first position; and wherein said linking device includes means for moving said shifting means to said second position during said trimming of said ends of one of said straps to permit advance of the next lock of said series of locks from the magazine chamber to said guideway.

4. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said linking device includes the inclined face on said actuating means, and a camming control member positioned in said housing and engaging said inclined face, said control member being arranged to act upon said shifting means.

5. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises a hand lever supported on said housing, and said actuating arm pivotally mounted within said housing and turnable by means of said hand lever along a predetermined path; and wherein said linking device includes said inclined face on said actuating arm, and a pivoted, substantially latch-shaped member mounted in said housing, said substantially latch-shaped member having a cam-like portion for engaging said inclined face. i

6. A tool as defined in claim 5, wherein said shifting means comprises said shifting lever arm positioned in said housing and mounted therein adjacent one of its ends for pivotal movement transversely of said path of movement of said actuating arm, the other end of said shifting arm being adapted to engage and shift said one lock, and spring means biasing said shifting arm for movement in the direction towards said holding means, said substantially latch-shaped member of the linking device being adapted to move said shifting arm in the opposite direction. 

1. In a tool for tying bundles of cables or the like by means of straps and locks, an elongated housing having a front end and also having an elongated magazine chamber therein for storing an elongated series of said locks with said magazine chamber extEnding substantially in parallel to the longitudinal direction of said elongated housing and having a discharge opening adjacent to the front end of the housing, lock holding means positioned at said front end of the housing and located near said magazine discharge opening, but transversely spaced from the longitudinal direction of said magazine chamber, a transversely extending guideway in said housing interconnecting said discharge opening of the magazine chamber and said lock holding means, shifting means for selectively restraining discharge of the front end most lock from said magazine chamber and allowing such release of the end most lock and for selectively shifting a release lock through said transverse guideway to said lock holding means, the shifting means comprising an elongated actuating lever in said elongated housing extending substantially in parallel to the longitudinal direction of said elongated housing adjacent said magazine chamber, a lock closing mechanism for closing a lock in the lock holding means to secure said lock to the ends of one of said straps when tied around one of said bundles of cables, actuating means for the said lock closing mechanism, comprising an actuating rod arranged in said housing and extending essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction of said elongated housing, and a linking device operatively connecting said actuating means and said shifting means and comprising means forming an inclined face on one of said actuating and shifting means and means forming a camming device for working against said inclined face on the other of said actuating and shifting means, the said apparatus being constructed and arranged so that the operations of the tool as a whole comprise an automatic transfer of a lock to said lock holding means via said transverse guideway during operation of the tool to actuate frontward movement of said series of locks in the magazine and closure of the previously advanced lock in an essentially combined single actuating operation.
 2. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said shifting means is movable in said transverse direction to a first position close to said holding means and obstructing said discharge opening of the magazine chamber and is movable in the opposite direction to a second position remote from said holding means and clearing said discharge opening, a resilient means being provided to bias said shifting means for movement in the direction towards said first position; and wherein said linking device includes means for moving said shifting means to said second position during said closing of said one lock to permit advance of the next lock of said series of locks from the magazine chamber to said guideway.
 3. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein cutting mechanism is provided for trimming said ends of one of said straps, said cutting mechanism being operable by said actuating means; wherein further said shifting means is movable in said transverse direction to a first position close to said holding means and obstructing said discharge opening of the magazine chamber and is movable in the opposite direction to a second position remote from said holding means and clearing said discharge opening, a resilient means being provided to bias said shifting means for movement in the direction towards said first position; and wherein said linking device includes means for moving said shifting means to said second position during said trimming of said ends of one of said straps to permit advance of the next lock of said series of locks from the magazine chamber to said guideway.
 4. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said linking device includes the inclined face on said actuating means, and a camming control member positioned in said housing and engaging said inclined face, said control member being arranged to act upon said shifting means.
 5. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises a hand lever supported on said housing, and said actuating arm pivotally mounted within said housing and turnable by means of said hand lever along a predetermined path; and wherein said linking device includes said inclined face on said actuating arm, and a pivoted, substantially latch-shaped member mounted in said housing, said substantially latch-shaped member having a cam-like portion for engaging said inclined face.
 6. A tool as defined in claim 5, wherein said shifting means comprises said shifting lever arm positioned in said housing and mounted therein adjacent one of its ends for pivotal movement transversely of said path of movement of said actuating arm, the other end of said shifting arm being adapted to engage and shift said one lock, and spring means biasing said shifting arm for movement in the direction towards said holding means, said substantially latch-shaped member of the linking device being adapted to move said shifting arm in the opposite direction. 